Adherence to nebulised antibiotics in cystic fibrosis.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the adherence of patients with cystic fibrosis to nebulised antibiotics.


METHODS
A longitudinal design with adherence data collected over 12 weeks. 38 patients (mean age 24.6 years, S.D. 5.3) were recruited from an adult cystic fibrosis (CF) clinic. Adherence was electronically monitored using a Prodose adaptive aerosol delivery (AAD) device.


RESULTS
Three indices of adherence were calculated: mean percentage of times the nebuliser was used as prescribed was 50.0% (S.D.=39.7, range 1.1, 155.6); mean percentage of days fully adhered was 31.6% (S.D.=29.4, range 0, 97.2); mean percentage of days nebuliser used at least once was 57.1% (S.D.=34.2, range 3.3, 100).


CONCLUSIONS
Rates of adherence were generally low. Adherence was not associated with any variables apart from age. There were wide variations between individuals, and differences in rates of adherence depending on how this was defined, with potentially important health consequences for the patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Technology that improves medication administration may still be associated with low rates of adherence. Health professionals need to be mindful of the pattern of non-adherence for each individual, and factors which may be influencing this.
Latchford
Gary
G
Institute of Health Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK. G.Latchford@leeds.ac.uk
Duff
Alistair
A
Quinn
Joanne
J
Conway
Steve
S
Conner
Mark
M
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D006113:United Kingdom
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents